Page 79 of Raising Hell
I watched him fetch the food, noting he wore his pants.
Was he respecting what I’d said about nudity?
He’d never taken my dress off even though he could have. I’d actually asked him to, and he hadn’t listened. What did that mean? Had he actually heard what I’d said earlier? Had he kept his word not to take more than I was willing to give, even when I was willing to give it?
“Are you hungry?” he asked, holding out the food.
Instead of meeting his inquisitive gaze, I took a few grapes and focused on those.
“I gave. I did not take,” he said as if reading my mind.
“You did,” I acknowledged.
“And you enjoyed it.”
I swallowed hard and nodded even as I fought not to cry.
“I did,” I managed.
“Then how did I bring you this misery?” he asked, trailing his fingers over my cheeks.
“I’m not the one you want. I’m not Persephone.”
He set the platter aside and wrapped me in his arms again.
“You are what I’ve always wanted but was never allowed to possess. Your expression when you found pleasure at my hand is what I’ve dreamed of seeing for an eternity. How can you say you are not the one I want when my heart broke and was remade at that moment? In every moment that you grant me a piece of yourself. Shed no tears for the beauty that we shared, and stop denying yourself the joy we can find together. You ask me who you are, and there is only one answer, no matter the name you choose. You are mine.”
His words wormed their way dangerously close to my heart.
Piece by piece, Hades was consuming me. Would anything be left when he finally realized I wasn’t the one he wanted? Would I even care by then?
I closed my eyes and snuggled against his chest, letting his presence soothe my battered soul.
* * *
“Releaseyour hold on this endless slumber and look upon me. I need you.”
Hades’ soft words, accompanied by the trailing of his fingers over my arm, tugged me from a very deep sleep. I was too comfortable, though, and didn’t want to move or open my eyes.
“Come back to me. Grace me with your gaze.”
I felt his lips on my cheek, and all the memories from last night flooded back. Our time in the pool. The snuggling afterward. Feeding me grapes. Portaling us back to the bedroom when I started to drift off.
“I’m not dead,” I mumbled. “Just tired.”
Planting my hand in his face, I pushed him away.
He chuckled and stole my hand to kiss it instead.
“You missed the sun setting and rising. If you continue to rest, you will waste one of your six remaining days.”
I cracked an eye open to peer at him.
“Six?”
He nodded and nipped the pad of my middle finger.
“How will you attempt to prove your humanity to me today, my love? Another bath, perhaps?”
